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Taking Care of Dental Implants for a Lifetime of Beautiful Smiles

Dental implants were developed to provide you with highly stable, comfortable and durable tooth replacements. They have been performed on many patients worldwide and the results have been successful. So what is the secret to a dental implant’s long term success? Optimum oral health! Trusted dental practice in Murrells Inlet, SC, Carolina Dental Center, shares helpful tips in taking care and properly maintaining dental implants. With healthy implants, long-lasting, beautiful smiles follow.

Keep your Teeth and Gums Clean and Healthy

Having clean and healthy teeth and gums translate to optimum oral health. This goal is pretty simple when you take a conscious effort to care of your teeth. Here’s what you should do:

Nourish your Oral and Physical Health

Since dental implants are fused into your jawbone, it is important to eat foods that nourish the bones, teeth and gums. Milk, for instance, is a good source of calcium that is essential for the bones. Tap water, on the other hand, contains fluoride, which your teeth need. Always eat a healthy, balanced diet, to keep you orally and physically healthy.

Avoid Bad Habits

Bad habits are amongst us, even with widespread information about their negative effects on our health. Bad habits for the teeth include smoking cigarettes, biting fingernails, using your teeth as a manipulative device and biting objects that are hard. Dental implants are strong, yet they can get damaged with regular exposure to extreme pressure. Don’t let your implants wear and tear easily. Avoid bad habits while you still can.

Consider Using a Mouth Guard

It is important to protect your dental implants. After all, they’re an investment! One protective device that you can use is a mouth guard. This is an oral appliance that you wear over the teeth, to prevent the damaging effects of bruxism (teeth grinding) and the potential trauma of contact sports. The mouth guard offers that extra layer of safety for your teeth and dental implants. In the event of an accident happening while you’re playing your favorite sport, your dental implants will have a less likely chance of getting damaged when you protect them with a mouth guard.

Eat Stain-Causing Foods and Drinks at a Minimum

Dental implants come in 3 parts which are your titanium screw, abutment post and prosthetic tooth. The latter may be designed to be stain resistant, but it’s best not to test its limits. For instance, drinking coffee and eating berries every day can stain your dental implants, especially if you are unable to brush your teeth right away. If at all possible take stain-causing foods and drinks at a minimum, or choose the lesser evil. If you really want tea, choose a white tea. If you’re at a party and want to drink wine, choose white wine. The clearer the drink means, the lesser stains your teeth get.